Should we give this guy a chance? (new hire)

[DS9VOY]

So I take it that you're going to hire him? Kaido gave the best advice. I'd like his post if i could.

I'm leaning towards giving the thumbs up on him. I just would really feel safer with someone who had corporate experience instead of their own experience doing things however they think is best. I suppose what I am saying is, someone who goes out and does IT work on their own out of their house comes across to me as someone who would have subpar experience to someone who worked corporate IT and has always had a boss/guidance/resources available to them. Maybe it's just because I'm used to people with that background. I don't know.

I'll probably just say give him a shot, even though I don't entirely feel comfortable with the "I do IT work on my own" type of experience.

 

[BeeBoop]

I don't believe you heard what everyone is saying here. Anyone with corporate experience would not settle for 10 an hour. You got the best bang for your buck.

 

[Ns1]

I'm leaning towards giving the thumbs up on him. I just would really feel safer with someone who had corporate experience instead of their own experience doing things however they think is best. I suppose what I am saying is, someone who goes out and does IT work on their own out of their house comes across to me as someone who would have subpar experience to someone who worked corporate IT and has always had a boss/guidance/resources available to them. Maybe it's just because I'm used to people with that background. I don't know.

I'll probably just say give him a shot, even though I don't entirely feel comfortable with the "I do IT work on my own" type of experience.

Someone wih corporate experience ain't working for $10/hr. Serious disconnect between requirements and pay.

 

[Carson Dyle]

If the pay were better, I'd hire him in a heartbeat. But I'll bet he doesn't last a year. Unless your neck of the woods has absolutely no demand for IT staff, or unless everyone pays as poorly as your company (is that even possible?), he'll be able to walk into a better job within months.

 

[destrekor]

I'm unemployed and in this line of work, and I hesitate to even waste my time applying for jobs that want that amount of experience at that level of pay. I mean, screening out those with less than 2 years experience? At that pay level? HR is on crack.

And that is exactly the bullshit I know I have to deal with. The only interviews I even get are for the ones that most assuredly would be paying more, but I guess I have some very stiff competition, because this town sucks for IT. So I get passed on those even after they seem very happy with my background and experience.

Yet I can barely get the ones offering under $15/hour to even give me the time of day. They want degrees AND years of experience, certs, etc. Those who have that and are good at what they do will be looking elsewhere. Those who do apply have either been down on their luck lately, had some performance issues, or are just going to be terrible. You're basically limited to those who are basically fresh faced and are at the level of looking to prove themselves.
I've had some bad luck myself. I had a contract to hire gig but the company was bought out right when I was brought on. The intent was to mitigate damage but ultimately let go of everyone, so client contracts would be fulfilled and people were needed for that. I was put under the assumption I would ride it out to be essentially the lesser paid one who could help patch things up as the team got smaller. Except the top brass of the company surprised us all and cut me loose first (which makes sense in many ways, but still I was blindsided). That was in January, and the market around here has been miserable. Few jobs, they are starting to pop up now.

At this rate, I'm hoping to get into a new Costco opening up soon. Fuck it all, my end game strategy was ultimately to transition into profiting of my creative talents anyway, the whole starving artist routine, but hopefully without the starving. I could be comfortable with Costco salary and it would get me away from staring at computers all day, where my ADHD is intense.

#FeelingDisillusioned

 

[destrekor]

If the pay were better, I'd hire him in a heartbeat. But I'll bet he doesn't last a year. Unless your neck of the woods has absolutely no demand for IT staff, or unless everyone pays as poorly as your company (is that even possible?), he'll be able to walk into a better job within months.

Perhaps they'd be happy simply being someones launching point as opposed to sticking around. Sounds like there is little growth potential anyhow.

Can any company TRULY expect, if their IT department is no larger than a handful of employees, that every individual will stick around for years? Perhaps if they are going to school and trying to make drastic jumps, but most, especially at "I'm still broke as hell" levels, are going to be looking elsewhere likely the very day they get hired. Perhaps they feel good for a month before they continue their search, unless they are the types who mope alone through life with little aspiration. And really, do you want an employee who has no aspiration?

 

[Carson Dyle]

Perhaps they'd be happy simply being someones launching point as opposed to sticking around. Sounds like there is little growth potential anyhow.

Where do you get that from? It may be that the guy is hoping to get in at the ground level and move up. That would be especially true if he has no corporate IT experience and doesn't realize that the job is the IT equivalent of scrubbing toilets.

 

[destrekor]

Where do you get that from? It may be that the guy is hoping to get in at the ground level and move up. That would be especially true if he has no corporate IT experience and doesn't realize that the job is the IT equivalent of scrubbing toilets.

I might have misread the OP, thinking it was a smaller company. :|

And regardless of corporate experience, even if it wasn't understood earlier, I would like to think a fair portion would realize the situation after a few working days.

 

[Ns1]

Where do you get that from? It may be that the guy is hoping to get in at the ground level and move up. That would be especially true if he has no corporate IT experience and doesn't realize that the job is the IT equivalent of scrubbing toilets.

I bet scrubbing toilets pays more than $10/hr lol

 

[jlee]

The average salary for mcdst jobs is $37,000. Average mcdst salaries can vary greatly due to company, location, industry, experience and benefits. This salary was calculated using the average salary for all jobs with the term "mcdst" anywhere in the job listing.
Mcdst Salaries | Simply Hired
www.simplyhired.com/salaries-k-mcdst-jobs.html

Just sayin'.

 

[jingramm]

Exactly as someone said, someone with any corporate experience will laugh at $10/hr.

That is a really low wage to be picky over a candidate. A high schooler can make more than that working retail.

 

[Genx87]

Guys, the job only requires a high school diploma and two years experience. NO degree/certs/etc are required. That is why the pay is that low. It is for an assistant to help out. This guy just happens to have degrees, but they are not IT related. It's not my fault he didn't major in the field he wanted to work in.

If someone in this job shows potential, they can easily move up to a higher position.

I dont know where you are posting this position. But in any city that isnt rural what you are asking typically runs easily double what you are offering. To be this picky over a 10\hour job is really silly. For 10 bucks an hour you should be happy if the candidate shows up on time. McDonalds pays as much for people who are barely able to finish basic life needs like breathing, drinking, crapping, and eating. You want to pay the same for somebody with some IT experience?

Just to let you know how silly your compensation is compared to the real world. I had an internship with Bobcat 15 years ago that paid 15\hour.

 

[BeeBoop]

Carson Dyle brings up a good point that is echoed again in Genx87's post. Your new hire is going to get the corporate experience he needs in as little as 6 months and find a job that pays appropriately.

 

[chubbyfatazn]

I don't entirely feel comfortable with the "I do IT work on my own" type of experience.

Why not? I'd wager a decent number of us on this board learned or were otherwise capable of doing the stuff you're asking when we were teenagers/young adults. If he's capable of running his own part-time business doing pretty much what you need him to do, what's the issue? He might not have any "professional experience," but he doesn't need any for your specific position.

It's not like having an IT-related degree even guarantees he learned how to set up computers or upgrade hard/software or whatever. It didn't for me. If you're so concerned give him a surplus computer and tell him to do xyz hardware upgrade and then bring the software up to date or something. It sounds like you're more concerned with what he says he can do than with what he can actually do.

Hell I could do all the stuff you wanted straight out of college (or even high school). The only thing I'd have been missing was the experience req and the "interfacing with others in a business environment" part, but the latter is sorta what the interview is for...

Sounds like he's passionate about changing his career path and is more than competent. Seems like a damn good deal to me, especially since you're only giving him $10/hr.

 

[mmntech]

Well, because he is doing this "own IT business out of the house" thing, I don't have a boss to call and verify he's able to do the work. So, in other words, do I just hope that he's been doing it competently on his own all this time because he says he is?

At $10/hr, does it really matter? The old adage "you get what you pay for" rings true here.

Sounds like all the company wants is someone to do IT's bitch work. Which frankly doesn't require education or experience. That job is more suited to someone looking for part time work while at school.

My big concern is why someone with that level of experience is willing to take a job for such little pay. Maybe there's problems with his home business. I guess if you want references, you could contact his customers.

I'm unemployed and in this line of work, and I hesitate to even waste my time applying for jobs that want that amount of experience at that level of pay. I mean, screening out those with less than 2 years experience? At that pay level? HR is on crack.

And that is exactly the bullshit I know I have to deal with. The only interviews I even get are for the ones that most assuredly would be paying more, but I guess I have some very stiff competition, because this town sucks for IT. So I get passed on those even after they seem very happy with my background and experience.

#FeelingDisillusioned

Same boat brother.

I've got a pretty solid and diverse resume, but it's vicious out there. My call back rate is 5% at best. Just so much competition. It's extremely frustrating. Things are bad everywhere right now.

The rest of my former team isn't having much luck either. One girl had to take a job at a clothing store for minimum wage. She used to be on TV.

 

[Grooveriding]

$10 for an hour ? That is mop swinging/gas pumping wages. I'm surprised someone would even take that pittance, be happy you found anyone.

 

[jlee]

To address this-

So, anyway, should we give this guy a shot? Anyone else have any experience with hiring someone with this guys background? Did it turn out good or bad? Would you hold out for someone who has an IT degree or professional corporate experience? I'm going to let HR know what I think Monday. Obviously, I am going to make my own decision on this, but I'd like to see if anyone has any similar experience with someone like this.

I started in IT with no corporate IT experience (just home stuff) 2.5 years ago as an intern for 60% more than your starting salary. I had no certifications, either. Fast forward 2.5 years (and four promotions) later, I am getting recruiters calling me for senior sys admin stuff. I may be an anamoly; there's plenty of people stuck on desktop support for years and years, but given adequate drive and intelligence, it's possible to move up very rapidly, so expecting two years' experience $21k a year is a bit silly. Hell, I barely meet your desired qualifications myself and I'm not interested in anything unless it's north of $70k.

If he is intelligent and does want to get into IT seriously, you should expect him to leave very quickly unless you have somewhere for him to move up into.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

WTF $10/hr?

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

When prodded with work ethic type questions, how did he do?

What is his current job?

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Oh, does he OP work for CSC?

They have no idea what appropriate pay is.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

And the cycle repeats itself.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Well, because he is doing this "own IT business out of the house" thing, I don't have a boss to call and verify he's able to do the work. So, in other words, do I just hope that he's been doing it competently on his own all this time because he says he is?

just wow...only $10.00 an hour.......that's starting pay at McDonalds......

 

[Rage187]

No offense, but $10? Support call centers start off at $17.50 here. They only care if you've been arrested.

 

[Rage187]

And the cycle repeats itself.

Ah, that's why he is screwing him. Just because it took all your certs and degrees to start at the bottom, other people shouldn't have to.

 

[chimaxi83]

I'm pretty sure we all just found out one of the job offers TridenT got. :sneaky: